Want to jam?
Let us know on the message board, here’s a direct link to this particular discussion topic:
http://mpec.net/smf/index.php?topic=134.0
If you don’t have a log-in you’ll need to create one.
Jam sessions are open to anybody and everybody. You are welcome to play any instrument of your choice. Previous jams have consisted of a variety of instruments. We’ll go with either 3 or 4 people per jam session. If several people are interested we’ll arrange multiple sessions.
Feel free to call or email if you have any questions, would like to know what the jam sessions might include, or if there is any music that you’d like to jam to.
Jamming is tons of fun! If you’d like to participate let us know on the forums link mentioned above.
Prior to this past Fall, we had jam sessions – same location as lessons – about once a month on Sunday afternoons. We will resume jam sessions this summer if enough students share an interest.
One jam session will consist of 3 to 4 people. It can include any combination of guitar, bass, drum set, percussion, and pretty much anything else if you know how to play any other instruments. Jams are completely optional, they are not a part of lessons, and they are for any students who would like to have fun simply… jamming.
If we schedule these jams, they can occur once a month – at least for the time being, unless students are interested in more frequent jams – and each jam session can last anywhere up to 2 hours. If several students are interested, we can set up multiple jams in one day, each having 3 to 4 people.
Jams can consist of pretty much any music of your choice. Our jams most commonly include basic patterns and progressions, such as the 12-bar blues or a simple 4-chord progression (any style), which are fairly easy to jam to.
We can consider this as a potential day/time: (more…)
When having a jam session, for those in the beginning stages of jamming, perhaps the easiest or most comfortable type of music to jam to is either blues or rock, mostly for the simplistic chord progressions, scales, and rhythm patterns used.
The 12-bar blues is a good example of this.
The guitarist can play just three different chords in the rhythm part and only has to know one scale (pentatonic or blues) for playing a lead part.
The bassist can outline the chord tones in just three chords and also only has to know one scale (pentatonic or blues) for playing a lead part.
The drummer only has to know a swing or shuffle pattern and have a couple fills down, which can be incorporated into playing a lead part.
When you’re comfortable with (more…)
One aspect of playing bass guitar that several people tend to overlook when learning how to play the instrument is the use of chords. This includes block chords, broken chords, arpeggios, Alberti bass, and any other applicable means of playing chords, even tone clusters (”cluster chords”).
Before one can effectively learn the chords they should learn all of the notes on the instrument. It would also be very helpful to learn several types of scales (in all 12 keys). It is generally through the process of learning scales that one actually memorizes the notes on the instrument (and on paper). However, without at least memorizing the notes, the process of learning chords could turn into a tedious and frustrating ordeal.
After learning the notes and basic scales, a more common approach to learning chords on (more…)
Practicing music is an important part of playing an instrument that is often neglected. Here are some paraphrased ideas that I found online on practicing that might come in handy.
The concept of “practice” is not always the same as “playing”. “Practice” can consist of thinking through things in a more methodical way. “Playing” can consist of a kind of thinking that is perhaps somewhat detached from certain thought processes that would occur in practice. Playing the music can include overlooking any of that “nagging self-awareness” that may or may not consume your practice. What you include in your practice, be it very basic or advanced, should eventually mastered. When practicing (rehearsing) with others, you are incorporating more of the concept of “playing”, where you might make mistakes but you keep going regardless. You take note of those mistakes and work on them later in individual “practice”, and the process cycles onto itself, which also helps you improve your ability to listen for certain things within the music.
In practice, you maintain an awareness of the finer details, notes, rhythms, timing, and other elements that help prepare you for playing with others. After practicing, you present those elements with others who are doing the same, all within a playing environment that is non-intimidating and therefore constructive. Jam sessions are great outlets for this.
Practice consists of (more…)
A while back I came across a website that covers some basic music theory. I’ll include the link here to the original source and to alternate versions in case the original page isn’t online.
musictheory.net (by Ricci Adams)
musictheory.net (on mpec.net)
If you are unable to view the animated music examples, try this:
musictheory.net (previous version)
And… we’re done transferring old entries over from the old blog to this one.
Below are some images/PDFs of the basic rhythms that we learn early on in music.
The last page can serve as a type of “cheat sheet” for reference in deciphering the counting of the various rhythms throughout the first couple pages. (We can fill in the blanks in the cheat sheet with the actual counting in lessons.)
Here they are… (more…)
The following is an exercise that goes through the C Major scale then all of the intervals that are contained within that scale.
The treble clef version can be played on guitar or any other treble clef instrument.
The bass clef version can be played on bass guitar or any other bass clef instrument.
Here they are… (more…)
The discussion in this post – from the previous MLSD Blog – included some music examples, though I’m omitting them here for the time being. As time allows, I’ll add them back in.
Here’s the discussion… (I’ve modified it to incorporate multiple instruments) (more…)
Regarding a more detailed approach towards what should actually be covered each day on the practice routine, without further music lessons, individual research will be required. (more…)
One thing that will help in the motivation factor of practicing is seeing what the long-term outcome of these goals include. If you follow through with the above sample routine, then after 6 months:
(more…)
Practice Routine (2 Hour Increments per Night)
(If practice is less duration, adjust accordingly.)
(more…)
The Self-Improved Musician:
Practice Routine, Goals, & Motivation for Guitar, Bass, & Pitched Percussion
Here is a very basic outline of various tasks you can practice in order to become a better guitarist, bassist, percussionist, and over all musician. Included is a possible practice routine as it pertains to 6 month and 1 year goals – several details are omitted as they would require lessons.
(more…)
Here’s an exercise I wrote for bass guitar that incorporates a more musical approach to practicing the instrument. The pattern that occurs throughout is an ascending and then descending line through the major scale, with 2 measures of melodic gestures per scale degree that also outline the triad or basic chord that is based on the scale degree. It is intended to be played both with the normal technique and slap technique.
(more…)
More “out with the old” and “in with the new”. The mpec.net forums are once again online, now new and improved. Once registered you’ll be given access to additional forums and categories. One of the main sections is the “Q & A”, which has several music-related posts.
http://mpec.net/smf/
After going to the main forums page, click on the “Register” link at the top right of the screen to gain access to the main forums.